Elgin edgar wood



E. E. WOOD.

CAN OPENER (No Model.)

No. 434,818. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

ELGIN EDGAR woOD, on TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To BENJAMIN WESTWOOD, or SAME PLAOE.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,818, dated August 19, 1890.

' Application filed April 11, 1890. Serial No. 347,493. (No model.)

and then, definitely pointed out in the claim.-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved can-opener in the position it will be when the incision is first being made. Fig. 2 is a view of it in operation for cutting a circular hole. Fig; 3 is a view of it making a straight out around the: top of a circular can. Fig. 4 shows the instrument cutting in a straight line parallel with the edge of a rectangular can. Fig. 5 is a view of the instrument with its corkscrew set ready for use. Fig. 6 is a detail showing cutter screwed i position.

A is a plate having a sharp point B 011 one end and a handle C at its other end, a head a being formed in the end of the said handle O. A slot 1) is made in the plate A, and a wall cl is formed on the bottom of the plate A, surrounding the slot 1), which slot is tapered, as indicated, so that the body of the arrow-headshaped cutter D will be jammed and held-rigidly in position when its nutf is tightened. The wall (1 not only forms a substantial bearing to receive and hold the tapered body of the cutter D, but it also supports the plate A clear of the top of the can, Where the cutter is in operation. f

In order to bring the cutter D into operation an incision is made in the center of the can by placing the point B in the desired position, as indicated, and hammering the head a. The cutter D is adjusted in its slot 1) to a point that will enable it, when pressed down in the position as indicated in Fig. 2, to make a hole the desired size, and .the point of the cutter D is pressed into the tin and the handle 0 moved, so as to cause the cutter to revolve on its point B. Owing to the tapered or arrowhead-shaped cutter D, the edge of the hole made in the can E 1s turned down, so as to form a round smooth edge around the said hole. A knife F 1s held angularly on the bottom side of the plate A, ribs g being formed, one on each side of the said knife, to hold it in its desired position. The cutting-edge of the knife F is curved Outwardly, as indicated, so that when the plate A is rocked on its fulcrum the cutting-edge of the said knife will act quickly and satisfactorily upon the tin. A ledge h extends above and projects beyond the edge of the plate A, so as to form a support for the said plate when the knife F is brought into actlon, as shown in Fig. 3. A ledge 70 progects below the bottom surface of the plate A, to form a wide fulcrum to steady the instrument whlle the knife F is operatingin the mannershown in Fig. 3. The ledge 7t also acts as a fulcrum when a straight out is made on a line wlth the ledge of a rectangular can, as shownnn Fig. 4' In this case the ledge h acts as a guide to keep the out on a straight line parallel with the edge of the can.

An opening is made in the handle C, in which a corkscrew G is placed, the said corkscrew being pivoted in the said handle at N, and a spring at is provided for the purpose of acting on the corkscrew G,in order to hold it either open or closed, as required.

What I claim as my invention is- As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described can-Opener, comprising the plate A, having a point- B and ledges h k at one end and open perforated handle 0 and a flat head at the other, the plate A having a tapered slot b, the arrow-headed cutter D having a shank to fit the slot, and a wing-nut fitting a screw-thread on said shank, a cutter F, set diagonally in a socket formed by ribs 9 on plate A, a corkscrew G, pivoted to the handle and folding in the opening therein, and a spring n, to hold the corkscrew in its desired position, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

Toronto, February 8, 1890.

ELGIN EDGAR WOOD.

In presence of- CHARLES C. BALDWIN, E. CUMMINGS. 

